A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, also containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present, Volume I, Part 93

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1184

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THOMAS G. GABBERT, one of Ventura county's most prominent and successful citizens, was born in Madison county, Iowa, January 11, 1854, a son of Jacob and Mary Jane Gabbert, natives respectively of Kentucky and Indiana. He was reared to young manhood on the paternal farm, and at the same time he was receiving his education in the public schools he was also being trained in the practical duties which fall to the lot of a farmer's son. Upon attaining his ma- jority he became dependent upon his own re- sources and since that time has followed farm- ing. Coming to California in 1883, he located in Ventura county, remaining in the vicinity of Saticoy until 1892, when he established his home near El Rio, where he has since been occupied in the cultivation of an extensive ranch. He is principally engaged in the raising of lima beans and beets, for which the soil of this locality is admirably adapted, and also grain and stock raising. While meeting with success in his agri- cultural efforts he has at the same time won a place of prominence among the public spirited cit- izens of Ventura county, having labored untir- ingly not only to further his own interests, but those of the community at large, and by his per- sistent energy, strict attention to business af- fairs, honorable dealings, and superior manage- ment, has attained a high standing in financial and social circles. Liberal in his views, enterprisng and public spirited. he takes an intelligent inter-

Thomas Hughes

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est in local matters, being ever among the fore- most in establishing beneficial projects, and is now serving his second term as supervisor, in that capacity performing the duties devolving upon him with credit to himself and to the honor of his constituents. During the last two years of his first term in this office he was chairman of the board, and still retains this position with the present board. He is a stanch Republican and seeks to advance the party's interests at all times. Fraternally he holds membership with the Ma- sonic organization.

In Madison county, Iowa, February 27, 1879, he was united in marriage with Miss Ella Peters, daughter of A. M. and Jane Peters, pioneers of California in 1882. They are the parents of the following children : Myron H., John Raymond, Boyd E., Richard Clarence, Harry and Thomas Arthur. Mr. Gabbert's long association with the interests of Ventura county have served to bring him in close contact with public affairs, and al- though his time has been pretty well occupied with his personal affairs (being identified with several mining enterprises in addition to his agri- cultural pursuits), he has still made it his aim to keep in close touch concerning all problems before the nation and to do his duty as a loyal and law-abiding citizen.

THOMAS HUGHES, a representative citi- zen of Los Angeles, was born in Greene coun- ty, Pa., August 25, 1859, about forty miles south of Pittsburg, where his father owned a flouring mill on the banks of the Monongahela river. His boyhood was passed among these scenes, the knowledge gleaned from books during his attendance of the public schools being supplemented by a thorough practical training under the instruction of his father. Inheriting the spirit of independence from his pioneer ancestry, and the self-reliance and courage which induced their emigration to a western world, he was but eighteen years old when he became dependent upon his own re- sources and sought a location among the more abundant opportunities of the southwest. In Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Clifton, and other towns of New Mexico, he was employed as a millwright and also in railroad construction work for five years. From that location he came to California and in Los Angeles-then a small town of only fifteen thousand people- began the foundation of a business that should some day place his name among the success- ful manufacturers of the Pacific coast. The first vear (1883) he secured work in a plan- ing mill, and the following year, with his earn- ings, entered upon independent operations on a necessarily small scale. Success accompa-

nied his efforts and he soon found it necessary to increase his equipment. He constructed and at different times operated eight different mills, one of the most important being at San Pedro, this having since burned. In 1896 he organized a business under the name of Hughes Brothers, a connection which contin- ued until 1902, when the enterprise was incor- porated as the Hughes Manufacturing Com- pany, with Mr. Hughes as president and most extensive stockholder, L. L. Robinson as sec- retary and Grant G. Hughes as general man- ager. They have a very complete and up-to- date equipment, having installed the most modern machinery, and it can be truthfully said that Mr. Hughes has brought more ma- chinery into Southern California than any other one man. They have a three-story brick building, 105x400 feet, and in the manufacture of their product employ over three hundred men. Shipments are made to Nevada, Ari- zona, Denver and surrounding towns in Cali- fornia, their extensive business not only add- ing to their personal returns, but giving to Los Angeles a prestige as a manufacturing center which has continued up to the present writing. In the early days of this city small opportunities were offered for manufactories, and only men of discernment could foresee the unlimited possibilities that were awaiting en- terprise and ability along this line. Mr. Hughes was the leader and has remained to the present day foremost in the ranks of the men who are advancing these interests. To the upbuilding of Los Angeles he has given every effort, platting Hughes addition to the city, and has also invested otherwise in realty holdings here.

Familiar from his youth with Los Angeles and its surrounding country, Mr. Hughes was among the first to develop oil, which was known to exist in quantities in this part of the state. There were only about fourteen wells on Lakeshore avenue when he took up the project, and thenceforward gave means, time and personal attention to the accomplish- ment of his plans. The first company formed, and which he assisted in organizing, was the American Oil Company, and following this at a later period was the organization of the Fullerton Oil Company, which owns fifty acres in fee in the heart of the Fullerton district. He was a member of the company that put down the first well in the Santa Maria dis- trict, and to this enterprise he gave his per- sonal attention : after securing a small flow at a depth of over two thousand feet, the well caved in and the matter was then dropped for a time. This location was then one hundred miles from any other oil region, but has since

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become one of the largest producing fields in the world, ten thousand acres in this district being owned by the Western Union Oil Com- pany, of which Mr. Hughes is first vice-presi- dent and supervising manager of the develop- ment work. The first well put down by this company was in the location started by Mr. Hughes some years before, proving his theory correct as to the location of oil. This organ- ization is one of the most extensive of its kind in the west, being made up of prominent finan- ciers of Los Angeles, whose ability and enter- prise have been used to further the advance- ment of the country along this line.

While a resident of New Mexico Mr. Hughes was united in marriage with Miss Car- rie Mosher, a native of New York, and their home in Los Angeles is among the most at- tractive of the city-evidencing within and without the refined and cultured tastes of the family. Mr. Hughes, although a busy man, has still taken time to interest himself in va- rious of the fraternal and social organizations of the city, being a member of the Elks, the Union League Club and the Driving Club, while automobiling is a recreation in which he indulges as freely as his business cares will permit. Although never an aspirant for per- sonal recognition no citizen is more actively interested in the promotion of all measures for the civic honor of the municipality. Locally he supports the men and measures which judg- ment impels him to believe best in the gov- ernment of the city, although in state and na- tional politics he is a stanch Republican. He has always declared for "open shop" and equal rights to all as citizens, willing to give the "square deal" and demanding it. He can al- ways be counted upon to give freely of time, money and influence in the furtherance of any movement tending toward the advancement of the general welfare and with the aggression which can only mean progression in such a man as he, takes a leading part in all contests in the support of his principles.

Personally Mr. Hughes is a man of many parts. Combining with an unusual degree of financial ability a stanch integrity in business affairs and an unimpeachable honor, he has wen not only a competence in the world's field of action, but also the friendship of the many who have known him during the years of his residence and association with the west. To an unusual degree is he esteemed by his fel- low-citizens and honored for the qualities of his citizenship. Personally an unostentatious manner, a kindly hospitality and generous spirit have given him a place among those citizens upholding the civic honor of our city.

JOHN BROWN, SR., was born in Worces- ter, Mass., December 22, 1817. His grandfather, John Brown, was in the war of the Revolu- tion and fell at the battle of Bunker Hill. When a boy John Brown, Sr., started west to realize the dreams and fancies of youth. He stayed awhile in St. Louis, Mo., after which he began rafting on the Mississippi river, then went to New Orleans. While on a voyage to Galves- ton he was shipwrecked and from there went to Ft. Leavenworth by the Red river route. In the Mexican war he participated in the battle of San Jacinto and saw General Santa Ana when first taken prisoner. After two years at Ft. Leavenworth, he went to the Rocky mountains, and for fourteen years hunted and trapped from the headwaters of the Columbia and Yellow- stone rivers, along the mountain streams south as far as the Comanche country or northern Texas with such mountaineers and trappers as James W. Waters, V. J. Herring, Kit Carson, Alexander Godey, Joseplı Bridger, Bill Will- iam, the Bents, the Suhletts and others of equal fame. He engaged sometimes a free trapper, at other times with Hudson Bay and other fur companies, hunting the grizzly, buffalo, elk, deer, antelope, mountain sheep, and trapping the cunning beaver among the Arapahoes, Chey- ennes, Apaches, Utes, Cherokees, Sioux, Crows and other tribes. He helped to build Fort La- ramie, Fort Bent, Fort Bridger and several oth- er forts. This period is hastened over, for the bear and Indian encounters and hair-breadth es- capes of the above-named hunters would fill a volume fully as interesting as "Kit Carson's Travels" or Washington Irving's "Captain Bonneville." Suffice it to say that such brave and intrepid hunters and adventurers as Mr. Brown and his companions piloted General Fremont across the Rocky mountains on his ex- ploration of the American continent, and if Gen- eral Fremont had adhered more closely to Mr. Brown's advice, he would not have lost so many men and animals that dreadful winter in the snow. Still, General Fremont has gone down in his- tory as the great Pathfinder.

The gold fever reached the mountaineers in 1849. Messrs. Brown, Waters, Lupton and White "fitted out" and joined one of the immi- grant trains bound for the land of gold. They spent the 4th of July, 1849, in Salt Lake City, and arrived at Sutter's Fort September I, and began mining on the Calaveras river. In No- vember, Mr. Brown moved to Monterey, and, with Waters and Godey, opened the St. Johns hotel and livery stable at San Juan Mission. Mr. Brown was here elected justice of the peace for two terms. His health failing him, he was ad- vised to go to the milder climate of Southern California. In April, 1852, he went to San

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Francisco, and there, with his family, boarded the schooner Lydia, Captain Haley commander, and after a week's voyage landed at San Pedro, where he engaged Sheldon Stoddard to haul him to San Bernardino, arriving in May, 1852. In 1854 he moved with his family to Yucaipe, where he went into the stock business, but re- turned to San Bernardino in 1857 and lived there until his death.

In 1861, seeing the necessity of an outlet to Southern Utah and Arizona for the productions of San Bernardino, Mr. Brown, with Judge Henry M. Willis and George L. Tucker, pro- cured a charter from the legislature for a toll road through the Cajon Pass, which he kept open for eighteen years, thus contributing materially to the business of the city in which he lived. In 1862 he went to Fort Mojave and established a ferry across the Colorado river, thus enchanc- ing the business of San Bernardino still more. .He was a liberal contributor to the telegraph fund when assistance was required to connect this city with the outside world, and favored rea- sonable railroad encouragement to place San Bernardino on the transcontinental line. At his own expense he enclosed the public square, where the pavilion now stands, with a substantial fence, and in many ways by his public spirit contributed to the advancement and improve- ment of this city. In the winter of 1873-74 he delivered the United States mail to the miners in Bear and Holcomb valleys, where the snow was three and four feet deep, thus showing that he still retained that daring and intrepid disposi- tion that he acquired in the Rocky mountains.

In the world of religious thought Mr. Brown had a wonderful experience. Born near Ply- mouth Rock on the anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers, he seems to have partak- en of their religious freedom and liberality of thought, and his years among the grandeur of the Rocky mountains aided in developing an in- tense love for nature, the handiwork of the great Creator. Here, as a child of nature, among the fastnesses of the mountain forests, or among the cliffs and peaks, he saw the Great Ruler in the clouds, and heard Him in the winds.

Without any education except that derived from the broad and liberal books of nature, he was the author of a book entitled, "Medium of the Rockies," in which kindness, gentleness, un- selfishness, charitableness. and forgiveness are set forth, dedicated to "the cause that lacks as- sistance, the wrongs that need resistance, the future in the distance, and the good that he could do"-the character that he acquired and lived all his life.

As old age began creeping on and many of the old friends were passing away, and the ac- tivities of life had to be transferred to others,

Mr. Brown joined President Lord, William Heap, R. T. Roberts, W. F. Holcomb, De La M. Woodward, Major B. B. Harris, David Seely. Sydney P. Waite, Marcus Katz, Lucas Hoag- land, Henry M. Willis, his old Rocky mountain companion James W. Waters, his son John Brown, Jr., and others, and organized the San Bernardino Society of California Pioneers, be- lieving that many hours could still be pleasantly passed by those whose friendship had grown stronger as the years rolled by and thuis live the sentiment of the poet-

"When but few years of life remain,

'Tis life renewed to laugh them o'er again."

Mr. Brown raised a large family : six daugh- ters and four sons: Mrs. S. P. Waite, Mrs. Laura Wozencraft Thomas, Mrs. Louisa Waters, Mrs. Sylvia Davenport, Mrs. Mary Dueber, now deceased. and Mrs. Emma Rouse; and John, Jo- seph, James and Newton Brown.

Mr. Brown outlived all of his Rocky mount- ain companions, and all of the commissioners appointed to organized this county, and all of the first officers of San Bernardino county; he re- mained alone to receive the tender greetings of his many friends who held him not only with high esteem and respect, but with love and ven- eration. He was greatly devoted to the Pioneer Society ; its pleasant associations were near and dear to him. Although feeble with declining years, he appeared at the meeting of the society on Saturday, April 15, 1899, and discharged his duties as President, and on the following Thurs- day, April 20, 1899, at 7 o'clock p. m., at the home of his daughter, Laura, his spirit depart- ed to that new and higher sphere of existence he so fondly looked to while in earth life. A. large concourse of friends attended the funeral of their old friend, from the Brown homestead, corner Sixth and D streets, the present resi- dence of his son, John Brown, Jr. The funeral services were conducted by Mrs. J. A. Mar- chant, of the First Spiritual Society of San Ber- nardino, and also by Rev. White of the Presby- terian Church of Colton. An excellent choir un- der the direction of Mrs. H. M. Barton and Mrs. Lizzie Keller discoursed appropriate se- lections. The floral offerings were profuse ; one emblematic of the Pioneers, being a tribute from the Pioneer Society.

According to directions from the deceased, frequently given by him to his children, the casket, and everything else necessary for inter- ment, was like his character and belief,-as white as the mountain snow. The honorary pallbearers were among his oldest friends then living: Sheldon Stoddard, W. F. Holcomb, R. T. Roberts, Lucas Hoagland, J. A. Kelting and Lewis Jacobs; and the active pallbearers were

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

J. W. Waters, Jr., George Miller, De La M. Woodward, Randolph Seely, H. M. Barton and Edward Daley, Jr.

JOHN E. YOAKUM. From the age of ten years a resident of California, Mr. Yoakum re- calls with interest the rapid development of the state and the remarkable increase in val- ties displayed by both city and country prop- erty. Missouri is the state where he was born, his birth having occurred in Ray county, July 6, 1851, to William and Sarah (Stone) Yoakum. The maternal grandfather, John Stone, was a member of one of the aristocrat- ic families of Virginia and some years after his marriage removed from that common- wealth to Missouri, where he settled near Knoxville. Three Yoakum brothers, Will- iam, Jesse and Isaac, came to the Pacific coast during the early development of the west, and of these, Jesse was killed in 1854 while driv- ing cattle across the plains to California. In 1861 William Yoakum returned east for the purpose of bringing his son, John E., back with him, and the latter vividly recalls the memorable journey which began at Kansas City in the midst of wintry storms in 1861, and ended twenty days later at Folsom, Cal., the travelers having kept on the road night and day without pause, by virtue of $700 stage fare paid to the Holliday Stage Coach Com- pany. For a time they remained at what is now East Oakland (then known as San An- tonio), but in 1862-63 they made their head- quarters at Virginia City, Nev., during which time they owned large lumber, mining and timber interests in the Truckee valley.

Three years after his journey across the plains John E. Yoakum accompanied his father via Panama to New York City, return- ing to California in 1865 across the plains, with mule teams. With them were his sister, Mary A .. also a half-sister, Sarah, born of his father's second marriage. For some years the father engaged in the stock business in Solano county and from there removed to Tulare county. When quite advanced in years he died near Armona, Kings county, in the fam- ous Mussel Slongh country. After having at- tended the public schools of Oakland and in Contra Costa and Solano counties, John E. Yoakum became a student in Heald's Busi- ness College. San Francisco. At an early age he took up the raisin-growing business in So- lano county and was so successful in produc- ing a fine quality of product that in 1874 and 1875 he was awarded a prize for his raisins and grapes in San Francisco. The vineyard which he planted in the Mussel Slough coun-

try comprised ten acres, forming a portion of a forty-acre ranch, which in 1885 he traded for seven city lots in East Los Angeles.

Almost immediately after locating in the San Joaquin valley Mr. Yoakum became a land agent and speculator in lands. At one time he owned fifteen thousand acres in Fresno, Tulare and Kings counties, a portion of which was lake and swamp land. Among his most important enterprises was the found- ing of the village of Armona and the platting of the town site, one-half of which he later sold to the Southern Pacific Railroad Com- pany. At this writing he yet owns property in Armona and farm lands in Fresno, Tulare and Kern counties, much of the property be- ing especially valuable by reason of its fruit orchards and alfalfa meadows. Probably one hundred thousand acres of land passed through his hands as selling agent and no one in the entire valley is more familiar with land values than he. By reason of having operated road and land graders he received a keen in- sight into the real values of lands and could handle the same intelligently. In addition he handled large tracts of railroad lands.

The so-called "boom" had just inaugurated in Los Angeles when Mr. Yoakum came to this part of the state in 1885 and he as- sisted in organizing the Tulare Immigration Association, in whose interests he spent his time between San Francisco and Los An- geles. While the boom lasted he did consid- erable speculating in lands. When its col- lapse came he suffered in common with all property-holders, but was saved from finan- cial disaster through his valuable holdings in Tulare county. His remarkable recuperative powers in finance were put to a thorough test, and when the reverses in the business world were needed he became a stronger power in real estate than he had been before. His con- nection with railroad excursions and the emi- gration business made it possible for him to be in close touch with the real-estate interests of Central California, especially in the San Joaquin valley, where his interests have been extensive for many years.

The name of John E. Yoakum is closely as- sociated with the upbuilding of Ocean Park in the laying out and handling of various sub- divisions. Included in the real estate still owned by him may be mentioned interest in Seagirt No. 1 and 2, Venice View tract, Club House Place, Santa Monica tract, Roseboro Heights tract, Short Line Beach tract. Venice of America, Highland tract. Venice Hill tract. Ocean Park Place, Ocean Park Terrace, San- ta Fe tract and various others. He owns con- siderable property in East Los Angeles and

Philetus & learn

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HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

large tracts in the San Joaquin valley as afore- said, the whole aggregating several thousand acres. In all movements that have had as their objects the upbuilding of the state Mr. Yoakum has always been a generous support- ter with both time and money and is justly entitled to a place in the annals of California.

Though not a partisan in belief Mr. Yoa- kum is stanchly in favor of Democratic prin- cipals, while fraternally he is associated with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. By his first marriage, to Jennie S. Reeves, a na- tive of England and daughter of George Reeves, who was a pioneer resident of Napa county, he had one daughter, Jennie, now the wife of Charles Dickerson. His second wife, whom he married in Kings county (then Tu- lare), was Alma R., the daughter of Foreman B. Cody, a resident of California since 1871. They have three children. Queenie, wife of Sidney Graves; John Vaughn and Valentine Stone.

PHILETUS SPRAGUE CARR. Of the men in Ventura county who have taken an active interest in developing the beet and bean industry none has been more prominent than P. S. Carr, better known by all his friends as "Major." He was born near Battle Creek, Mich., November 30, 1839, a son of Simon Vader and Angeline (Sprague) Carr. both natives of New York state, of Scotch-Irish ancestry.

His ancestry goes back to the time of the emigration of three brothers to America from Scotland. one locating in New York, one in Massachusetts and another in the South. "Major" Carr descending from the New York branch. His great-grandfather Carr served in the Revolutionary war as a commissioned of- ficer and his grandfather in the war of 1812 as a colonel.

Simon Vader Carr was a pioneer settler of Michigan, then a territory, locating four miles south of what is now Battle Creek. Calhoun county. At this early date the wheat had to be carried to Detroit, the nearest mill, and ground into flour; there being no roads they followed Indian trails. This he accomplished, first on foot and later packing on horseback. He brought the first span of horses into the county, established the first brickyard in that section and improved his farm from a dense forest to a high state of cultivation. He served as justice of the peace, was a Master Mason, a member of the Presbyterian Church and a man much esteemed by his fellow-citizens. His wife was the daughter of Dr. Sprague, a

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A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, also containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present, Volume I, Part 93

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company Number of Pages: 1184

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1184